TOEFL iBT Speaking Section

The Speaking section lasts only 20 minutes and is the shortest section of the TOEFL iBT. It is always the third section of the test. This section contains six speaking tasks: two independent tasks and four integrated tasks. Two of the integrated speaking tasks combine reading and listening with speaking. The other two integrated speaking tasks combine listening with speaking. For all 6 of these tasks, you must speak into a microphone, and the computer will record your responses.

The Speaking section is divided in the following way:

• Two independent Speaking tasks: these two speaking tasks require you to answer a question based on your personal experience and opinions. They do not require you to react to any additional material.
• Two integrated tasks that combine Reading and Listening with Speaking: for these two speaking tasks, you must read one passage, listen to a different passage, and answer a question that asks how the ideas and information contained in the two passages are related. During these two tasks, you may access the Reading passage while you record your response, but you only get to hear the Listening passage once.
• Two integrated tasks that combine Listening with Speaking: these two speaking tasks require you to listen to longer passages and then respond to questions that ask you to summarize important points of the passage.

Although the Speaking section is the shortest section on the test, it still accounts for one fourth of your total TOEFL iBT score. In order to do well on the Speaking section, you must be able to grasp the material presented, organize your thoughts, plan a response, and begin speaking, all in a very short period of time. Unfortunately, many students score poorly on the Speaking section because they run out of time and never get a chance to fully answer the questions.

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